Lessons from Experience: If I Were 22 Again

If I Were 22 Again: Lessons from Experience

As I reflect on my life's journey and the lessons I have learned, I am often asked what I would do differently if I were 22 again. My answer is that I would not necessarily do things differently but focus on the most important aspects of life. At 22, I was a young man with a passion for the word of God and a desire to serve Him. Today, as an older man, my passion and desire remain the same, but my perspective is different. In this article, I will share some of the most valuable lessons I have learned and what I would do if I were 22 again.

Lesson 1: Seek God's Will for Your Life

The most important thing you can do at 22 is to seek God's will for your life. This may sound like a cliché, but it is true. The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." This means that we should not rely on our own wisdom and understanding but seek God's guidance in all areas of our lives. We should ask Him to show us His will and direction for our lives and then follow it, regardless of the cost.

When I was 22, I had a general sense of God's calling on my life, but I did not know exactly what it was. I knew that I wanted to serve Him, but I was not sure how. It was not until I sought God's will and guidance that things became clear. As I spent time in prayer and study of His word, God revealed to me His plan for my life. He showed me that I was called to preach His word and to make disciples of all nations. This was not an easy path to follow, but it was the right one.

Lesson 2: Invest in Your Relationship with God

If I were 22 again, I would invest more time and effort in building my relationship with God. This means spending time in prayer, studying His word, and seeking His presence. The Bible says in Psalm 63:1, "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water." In other words, we should hunger and thirst for God as if our lives depend on it because they do.

At 22, I was a committed Christian, but I did not fully understand the importance of investing in my relationship with God. I spent more time reading books about God than reading His word. I spent more time talking about Him than talking to Him. It was not until I began to invest more time and effort in my relationship with God that I began to experience the fullness of His presence and power in my life.

Lesson 3: Love and Serve Others

If I were 22 again, I would focus more on loving and serving others. The Bible says in Mark 12:30-31, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." In other words, we should love others as we love ourselves because this is the fulfillment of the law.

At 22, I was so focused on my own spiritual growth and development that I sometimes neglected the needs of others. I thought that as long as I was doing what God called me to do, that was all that mattered. But God's call on our lives always involves loving and serving others. As I got older, I realized that the greatest joy and fulfillment in life come from serving others. When we love and serve others, we become more like Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve.

Lesson 4: Embrace Your Unique Calling

If I were 22 again, I would embrace my unique calling and not compare myself to others. The Bible says in Galatians 6:4, "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else." In other words, we should not compare ourselves to others because we each have a unique calling and purpose in life.

At 22, I often compared myself to others who seemed to be more successful or more gifted than I was. I thought that if I could just be like them, then I would be happy and fulfilled. But God did not create us to be like anyone else. He created us to be unique individuals with unique gifts and callings. When we embrace our unique calling and use our gifts to serve Him, we find joy and fulfillment in life.

Lesson 5: Live with an Eternal Perspective

If I were 22 again, I would live with an eternal perspective. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." In other words, we should not focus on the temporary things of this world but on the eternal things that matter most.

At 22, I was so focused on the things of this world that I sometimes forgot that this world is not our home. I thought that if I could just achieve certain goals or acquire certain things, then I would be happy and fulfilled. But the things of this world are temporary and do not last. When we live with an eternal perspective, we realize that the only things that matter are those that will last for eternity.

Conclusion

If I were 22 again, I would seek God's will for my life, invest in my relationship with Him, love and serve others, embrace my unique calling, and live with an eternal perspective. These are the most important things in life, and they have not changed over the years. As you embark on your own journey in life, I encourage you to keep these lessons in mind. Seek God's will for your life, invest in your relationship with Him, love and serve others, embrace your unique calling, and live with an eternal perspective. If you do these things, you will find joy and fulfillment in life, and you will make a difference in the world.